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House Budget Released for 2016

posted by David Lewis | 82sc
May 17, 2016

Yesterday, the House Appropriations Committee released the details of the proposed House budget for the second year of this session’s biennium.

Speaker Moore issued the following statement regarding the draft budget: “The North Carolina House has presented a sound, conservative budget that funds our priorities and sets the stage for continued growth and success for North Carolina. This proposal is a good starting point and I look forward to my colleagues debating and refining it as is moves through the committee process.”

Moore went on to say, “I believe the combination of responsible spending, measured tax cuts and proactive savings will further solidify North Carolina’s status as a great place to live, work and conduct business.”

Senior Appropriations Chairman Nelson Dollar is quoted as saying, “The House Budget focuses on a plan to raise average total teacher pay to at least $50,000 per year over the next two years; provides a much needed raise for state employees and funds a cost of living increase for retirees. The proposal also fully funds enrollment growth for our public schools, funds critical needs identified by the Governor’s Taskforce on Mental Health and Substance Abuse; increases transportation resources for our roads and highways by $68 million, and places $300 million in the Rainy Day funding raising our savings reserves to a record $1.4 billion. This is a responsible budget that funds critical needs, plans for the future, and moves our state forward.”

Provides funds for an additional 3% salary increase for assistant district attorneys and assistant public defenders.

Retirees will receive a 1.6% Cost of Living Adjustment.

Increases the State’s contribution to the State Health Plan by 3.43% in order to plan for future needs

Strengthening Delivery of Health Care

Streamlines and makes better use of tax payer funds by bringing more work in house as opposed to contracting that work out saving North Carolina taxpayers over $3 million dollars.

Increases access to care in rural, underserved North Carolina by investing $7.7 million for the establishment of a residency program at Cape Fear Valley Hospital

Provides funding to establish an analytics pilot at Medicaid to integrate new data sources, automate reporting and analytic capabilities and integrate a tool to analyze claims in an effort to be more efficient and effective with current resources.

Provides nearly $2 million to the Chronic Disease and Injury Prevention Section to be used for an evidence-based diabetes prevention program targeted to minority populations.

Provides nearly $60 million to help those individuals suffering from mental health conditions as well as individuals who struggle with substance abuse.

Provides $4 million for an additional 800 children to be served in NC Pre-K, ensuring high-quality educational experiences to enhance the school readiness of our four-year-olds across the state.

In an effort to better serve our children, provides $9 million for enhancements to the Child Welfare system to improve the safety and outcomes of children involved in the Child Welfare system. This includes funding for training of local departments of social services, improving the foster care licensing and recruitment process and additional funding for In-Home services to support children while keeping families together and reducing the likelihood of children entering into foster care.

Investments in Public Safety

Provides funding to equip and operate crime labs in North Carolina and increases funding for forensic testing.

Authorizes funding for the completion and staffing of the new Western Crime Lab.

Allocates additional funding to the Raleigh Crime Lab for equipment.

Appropriates additional funding for the outsourcing of forensic analysis to include toxicology and DNA testing.

Creates social media training for law enforcement.

Investments in Agriculture

Provides $1 million for the Tobacco Trust Fund

Provides $1 million for the Agricultural Development and Farmland Preservation Trust Fund

Provides $1 million for firefighting equipment for the Forest Service

Protecting our Natural Environment

Increased funding for the Commercial Leaking Underground Storage Fund which works to remediate contaminated soil and groundwater

Provides $5 million for Water Resources projects to improve water quality and to ensure safe drinking water for all in accordance with federal requirements.

Increased Clean Water Management Trust Fund by $5M (for a total of $18.8M)

Provide $5M to expedite closure of inactive hazardous landfill sites

Restores $2 million to the Division of Air Quality to protect and improve air quality in North Carolina and includes a special provision that eliminates 31 counties from needless motor vehicle emissions inspections.